The Trinity in Creation Inspiration and the Trinity
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Volume 24, Number 2 • Fall 2013 The Trinity in Creation Bryan Murphy Inspiration and the Trinity William D. Barrick The Trinity and Eschatology Michael J. Vlach Did Constantine Invent the Trinity?: The Doctrine of the Trinity in the Writings of the Early Church Fathers Nathan Busenitz Bibliography of Works on the Trinitarian Theology Dennis Swanson THE MASTER’S SEMINARY JOURNAL published by THE MASTER’S SEMINARY John MacArthur, President Richard L. Mayhue, Executive Vice-President and Dean Edited for the Faculty: William D. Barrick John MacArthur Irvin A. Busenitz Richard L. Mayhue Nathan A. Busenitz Alex D. Montoya Keith H. Essex Bryan J. Murphy F. David Farnell Kelly T. Osborne Paul W. Felix Dennis M. Swanson Michael A. Grisanti Michael J. Vlach Gregory H. Harris Matthew W. Waymeyer by Richard L. Mayhue, Editor Michael J. Vlach, Executive Editor Dennis M. Swanson, Book Review Editor Garry D. Knussman, Editorial Consultant The views represented herein are not necessarily endorsed by The Master’s Seminary, its administration, or its faculty. The Master’s Seminary Journal (MSJ) is is published semiannually each spring and fall. Beginning with the May 2013 issue, MSJ will be distributed electronically for free. Requests to MSJ and email address changes should be addressed to [email protected]. Articles, general correspondence, and policy questions should be directed to Dr. Michael J. Vlach. Book reviews should be sent to Dr. Dennis M. Swanson. The Master’s Seminary Journal 13248 Roscoe Blvd., Sun Valley, CA 91352 The Master’s Seminary Journal is indexed in Elenchus Bibliographicus Biblicus of Biblica; Christian Periodical Index; and Guide to Social Science & Religion in Periodical Literature. Articles are abstracted in New Testament Abstracts; Old Testament Abstracts; and Religious and Theological Abstracts. This periodical is indexed in the ATLA Religion Database® and it is also included in the full-text ATLASerials® (ATLAS®) collection. Both are products of the American Theological Library Association, 300 S. Wacker Dr., Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60606, E-mail: [email protected], and www.atla.com. Copyright is waived if photocopied articles are for use in a classroom or local congregation and if the number of copies does not exceed one hundred which are distributed free and include the notice “Copyright (year). Reprinted from The Master’s Seminary Journal.” For any other use, such as posting on the Internet, advance permission is required. ISSN #1066-3959 Volume 24 Fall 2013 Number 2 THE MASTER’S SEMINARY JOURNAL CONTENTS Editorial: One God—Three Persons...................................161–165 Richard L. Mayhue The Trinity in Creation ..............................................167–177 Bryan Murphy Inspiration and the Trinity ...........................................179–197 William D. Barrick The Trinity and Eschatology .........................................199–215 Michael J. Vlach Did Constantine Invent the Trinity?: The Doctrine of the Trinity in the Writings of the Early Church Fathers .....................217–242 Nathan Busenitz Bibliography of Works on the Trinitarian Theology .....................243–249 Dennis Swanson Reviews...........................................................251–282 Richard C. Barcellos Better Than the Beginning: Creation in Biblical Perspective ...........251–252 Reviewed by William D. Barrick Daniel I. Block Deuteronomy.....................................................252–255 Reviewed by Michael A. Grisanti Dave Brunn One Bible, Many Versions: Are All Translations Created Equal? ........255–258 Reviewed by William D. Barrick Mark S. Gignilliat A Brief History of Old Testament Criticism: From Benedict Spinoza to Brevard Childs............................258–261 Reviewed by Kyle C. Dunham Andreas J. Köstenberger and David A. Croteau, eds. Which Bible Translation Should I Choose?: A Comparison of 4 Major Recent Versions............................261–264 Reviewed by William D. Barrick John MacArthur One Perfect Life: The Complete Story of Jesus.......................264–266 Reviewed by Gregory H. Harris Eugene H. Merrill, Mark F. Rooker, Michael A. Grisanti The World and the Word: An Introduction to the Old Testament ........266–269 Reviewed by Irvin A. Busenitz Candida Moss Ancient Christian Martyrdom: Diverse Practices, Theologies, and Traditions The Myth of Persecution: How Early Christians Invented a Story of Martyrdom.....................................269–272 Reviewed by Dennis M. Swanson James H. Moorhead Princeton Seminary in American Culture and Religion ................272–275 Reviewed by Dennis M. Swanson James Carleton Paget and Joachim Schaper, eds. The New Cambridge History of the Bible From the Beginnings to 600 Richard Marsden and E. Ann Matter, eds. The New Cambridge History of the Bible From 600 to 1450. ...........275–278 Reviewed by Dennis M. Swanson Carl R. Trueman The Creedal Imperative............................................278–280 Reviewed by Eric J. Lehner C. Richard Wells and Ray Van Neste, eds. Forgotten Songs: Reclaiming the Psalms for Christian Worship. ........280–282 Reviewed by William D. Barrick MSJ 24/2 (Fall 2013) 161–65 EDITORIAL ONE GOD–THREE PERSONS God’s triunity (trinitarianism) stands unarguably as a sine qua non, i.e., an in- dispensable fact of Christianity. It has been, is, and forever will be an indisputable, foundational, bedrock belief of the Christian faith. The Master’s Seminary doctrinal statement succinctly summarizes this precious truth thusly: “We teach that there is but one living and true God (Deut 6:4; Isa 45:5– 7; 1 Cor 8:4), an infinite all-knowing Spirit (John 4:24), perfect in all His attributes, one in essence, eternally existing in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14)—each equally deserving worship and obedience.” While God’s triunity appears implicitly and explicitly throughout the Bible, no one text declares or explains the fullness associated with the incomprehensible triune God (Isa 40:28). However, the plethora of evidence in both Old Testament (OT) and New Testament (NT), plus the writings of the early church, make this an overwhelm- ingly undeniable tenet of biblical orthodoxy. Starting in the OT, one immediately encounters Gen 1:26 and 3:22 (cf. 11:5–7) using the plural pronoun “us” in reference to God. Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” (Gen 1:26). Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever” (Gen 3:22). The same use of “us” also appears in Isa 6:8: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” But, how can one be three? Deut 6:4 hints at the answer: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!” The Hebrew word ( =O;H), translated “one” here, frequently communicates the idea of unity in diversity. For instance, Gen 1:5 (one day in two parts—evening and morning); Gen 2:24 (one couple in two partners—male and female); Exod 24:3 (one voice in many people); Exod 26:6 (one tabernacle in multiple parts); Num 13:23 (one 161 162| The Master’s Seminary Journal cluster in many grapes). So, it is no surprise to see one God in three persons being alluded to by Moses in his last book of the Pentateuch. With even greater specificity, Isaiah speaks of three persons when referring to the one God of Israel—Lord God, Me, i.e., Christ, and Spirit (48:16). Also see Isa 61:1—Spirit, God, and Me, i.e., Christ, who interpreted this text in just such a manner (Luke 4:18–19). In the progress of God’s written revelation, the NT evidence becomes more direct and increasingly frequent: After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” (Matt 3:16–17). Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matt 28:19). The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me (John 15:26). But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you (Rom 8:11). Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me (Rom 15:30). The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all (2 Cor 13:14). how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Heb 9:14). By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God . (1 John 4:2). But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life (Jude 20–21).